Greens take stand against nuclear after MacTiernan’s unwelcome conversion

With Japanese Authorities declaring the worsening situation at Fukushima an "emergency", Labor candidate for Perth Alannah MacTiernan has made a baffling pitch for nuclear power to stay in contention for Australia's energy mix.

"The nuclear industry is falling apart worldwide in the wake of Fukushima, the global financial crisis, uncontrollable costs, and overwhelming competition from renewable energy," Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today. Senator Ludlam will debate Ms MacTiernan tonight in Perth.

"The Greens' Energy 2029 report maps a pathway to 100% renewable energy in WA: we need to look to the future, not the past.

"Global electricity generation from nuclear plants dropped by an historic 7 per cent in 2012, adding to the record drop of 4 per cent in 2011 according to the July 2013 World Nuclear Industry Status Report.

"Uranium accounts for only 0.29 per cent of national export revenue and less than 0.015 per cent of Australian jobs in the decade to 2011. Uranium projects are being mothballed all over the country and WA uranium front-runner Toro is in trouble.

"The position of Minister Gary Gray and Alannah MacTiernan further illustrate how far Labor have lost the plot on nuclear power. Only The Greens can be trusted to stand up for clean, safe energy - and to say no to nuclear," Senator Ludlam concluded.

Senator Ludlam will debate Alannah MacTiernan tonight at Engineers Australia 6pm at 712 Murray Street Perth - https://events.engineersaustralia.org.au/ei/getdemo.ei?id=1653&s=_6J00VLR4S